I read it too fast! Every ten minutes I could get in the day I'd be pulled back in, there's such a density of thoughtful reflection of a world that's sometimes alien to me, sometimes all too familiar. I'm impressed that you got to a place to be able to write this, it hits hard. Thank you

There is love in that alt text, great stuff

Btw, looks like Birlinn aren't sending to Europe currently for your 'rest of world' link? I'm ok with e-book but don't want your sales being thwarted by them not having their shit together

Thanks for sharing this, the honesty alongside the slightly haunting pics of 21 year old you facing into everything changing hit really hard. I'm glad you found the real you through magnificent toil, I'm off to order the book.

Listen to these Germans. They lived through it. They know how it works.

Oh I see - underperforming schools get made into academies and put under a trust with a 'strong track record'. Victorian discipline ensues?

Ooooh hadn't realised it was UK only, presume it's also the only place to be enjoying delights like 'floor lines'. Ouch, that's bleak

This is something I wasn't aware of, thanks. I'd venture social media may also factor into this, through both presenting curated versions of what other students are doing and for encouraging constant concern about peer approval - 2015 tracks as the start of widespread adoption.

Algorithms are the antithesis of serendipity. It’s why the tech bro cult of optimisation is so corrosive - the Internet was supposed to broaden horizons but the idea that there’s a ‘best’ meal, a ‘best place to stay, a ‘best’ partner, ultimately just shrinks our world and reduces our experiences.

I'm thinking we need a CAPTCHA but for awful vs sound people. Perhaps some sort of charity micropayment to be able to post each time, to a charity they don't get to choose.

ngl I really miss seeing live acts, thanks for showing it can be done. I'll get there eventually

100%, I wish more of their style of articles were integrated into standard education, demystify the material world around us a bit and make everyone a bit more grateful for the whole tech tree we sit on

What is this "reconductoring" magic? Basically it's replacing the lines themselves with newer high-tech, high-capacity lines, which don't weigh substantially more & thus can string along the same towers. Lots more here:

Same! I think part of being a futurist is also having a deep appreciation of the tech tree that got us there and recognising that there are trade-offs. I was amazed to be playing a vinyl pressed 54 years ago yesterday, I think it's a feature sometimes that it forces a progression of songs

I imagine this is the algorithm mindlessly optimizing for engagement and happening upon some dark exploitation. If so it's more concerning as that doesn't require people to be fiendishly plotting this, it just happens, meaning this will be far more wide reaching.